London Marathon architect Disley dies at 87

LONDON – John Disley, a former Olympic bronze medalist in the steeplechase and one of the founders of the London Marathon, has died. He was 87.

London Marathon organizers said Disley died in a hospital early Monday after a short illness.

The Welsh-born Disley won the bronze in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. In 1955, he set the world record for the steeplechase in Moscow.

Along with founding race director Chris Brasher, Disley helped create the London Marathon, which debuted in 1981.

London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel says Disley “was the architect of the original London Marathon route. Every runner of the race since 1981 owes him a great debt for the vision he realized alongside Chris Brasher.”